Drapery cornice dual rod and hanger assembly



Jan. 19, 1965 H. c. PFAFF 3,166,236

DRAPERY CORNICE DUAL ROD AND HANGER ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 5, 1963 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 28 I0 ll 40 32 FIG 3 FIG. 2

INVENTO 2 BY @Ala-Q ta/ ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1965 c, PFAFF DRAPERY CORNICE DUAL ROD ANDHANGER ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR MM, 6

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ATTORNEYJ Filed Oct. 5, 1965 Jan. 19, 1965 H. c. PFAFF 3,166,286

DRAPERY CORNICE DUAL. ROD AND HANGER ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 3, 1963 4 shets-sheet 5 INVENTOR HOMER C. PFAFF Z7J2 Q Q A'T'T 0 RN EYS Jan. 19, 1965 H. c. PFAFF 3,166,286

DRAPERY CORNICE DUAL ROD AND HANGER ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 5, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. HQMER. C. PFAFF ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,166,286 DRAPERZ CORNICE DUAL RG1) AND HANGER ASSEMBLY Homer C. ifaii, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Up-Rite Hook Company, Toledo, Ohio, a partnership Filed Oct. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 313,543 8 Claims. (Cl. 248263) This invention generally relates to drapery hanger means and particularly pertains to a combined dual rod and bracket assembly easily hung and removed as a unit and which is particularly suitable for supporting tubular, sleeve, or channel type cornice elements. The present application is a continuation-in-part application of my copending application, Serial Number 175,585, filed on February 26,' 1962 now abandoned.

Drapery hangers and brackets have been employed heretofore, however, the several devices of the prior art have not proven entirely satisfactory inasmuch as they are complicated in design and construction, expensive to manufacture, difficult to use, and are not adaptable to assemble as a unit at floor level and hang as a unit at an elevated position. With the foregoing in view, the primary object of the invention is to provide a dual, rod and hanger assembly unit particularly suitable for cornices and cornice elements which is simple in design and construction, in-

expensive to manufacture, easy to use and easy to integrate as a unit at floor level and to hang as an assembled unit at an elevated position.

An object of the invention is to provide wall brackets having a top flange equipped with a hook receiving aperture and bottom side flanges for engaging and stabilizing the hangers.

An object of the invention is to provide hangers which have a hook portion hanging in the wall bracket top flange aperture and a portion for stabilizing engagement with the wall bracket bottom flanges.

An object of the invention is to provide paired dual opposed rod insert prongs on each hanger lying within the channel of the dual rods.

An object of the inventioniis to provide simplified, inexpensive end hangers which can be made completely out of wire.

An object of the invention is to provide a hanger having top and bottom legs with like hook ends wherein one acts as a hanging element and the other acts as a stabilizing element making each hanger usable in both the right and left-hand positions obviating the necessity of having right and left-hand hangers.

An object of the invention is to provide an adjustable center support bracket disposable between rod sections for coupling rod sections together and for supporting the coupled ends of the rod sections intermediate the end hangers.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following description of a drapery hanger assembly particularly suitable for cornices embodying the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a hanger and rod assembly showing a cornice element partially broken away;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the hanger seen in FIG. 1 from the left-hand side of FIG. 1 and additionally showing the wall bracket exploded therefrom;

FIG. 3 is an end view of a hanger as seen from the right of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a hanger and rod asamazes Patented Jan 19, 1965 sembly showing modified end hangers and an interposed adjustable center support bracket;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of another modification of the end hanger showing the like book ends and wall bracket construction in more detail;

FIG. 6 is a front view of another embodiment of wall bracket constructed according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the wall bracket shown-in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of another embodiment of end hanger constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of another embodiment of center brace for a dual rod assembly; and

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 1l--1tl of FIG. 9.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the sevapproximately eral views, the drapery hanger devices disclosed therein to illustrate the invention comprise a pair of spaced wall brackets 1%, FIGS. 1-3, adapted to be fixed on the wall such as with screwsor nails, a pair of opposed spaced hangers 11 supported on the wall bracket 10, a pair of spaced rods 12 supportedon the hangers 11, and a cornice or drapery sleeve element 13 on the rods 12. p

More particularly, the'wall bracket 16 comprises a wall contacting portion Zil having a topflange 21 equipped with an aperture 22 and a pair of lower side flanges 2-3 forming a spring channel for receiving a portion of the hangers 11 therein.

The hangers 11, FIGS. 1-3, comprise a top leg 25 having a-projecting outer end 26, an inner end 27 terminating in a downwardly extending hook 28 for disposition in'the wall bracket top flange aperture 22; a bottom leg 30 hav ing an. inner end 31 abutting the wall bracket lolwer flanges 23, an outer extending end 32 disposed below the top leg extending end 26; a cross leg 33 extending fromj the bottom leg inner end 31 upwardly-outwardly and connecting tothe outer leg adjacent its outer end 26. Itis to be noted at this point that the hanger 11 has a Z shape confirmation as seen in FIG. 2.

The top leg ends 26 and the bottom leg ends 32 on each tensible, and equipped with receiving channels enclosing the prongs 45 of the hangers 11.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4 the top leg 50 and the bottom leg 51 are similarly formed, oppositely disposed,

and their prong portions 52 and 53 aligned in the same direction and the center interconnecting brace 54 is welded,

to the legs 59 and 51. The legs 50 and 51 have 1ikeepposed hook ends 56 and 57 which enable the samehanger I to be used for both right and left-hand locations. On the right-hand side of FIG. 4 the hook 56 on the leg 50 lies in the aperture 22 of the wall bracket 10. while the hook end 57 on the leg 51 engages the fiang'es 23 of the wall bracket 10. Conversely, on the left-hand side of FIG. 4, the hook 57 on the leg 51 lies in the aperture 22 of the wall bracket Itl and the hook 56 engages the flanges 23 of the wall bracket 10.

An adjustable center support bracket 60, FIG. 4, has a wall attaching portion 61, a projecting leg 62 a horizontal extension 63 telescoping with the leg 62, a depending strap 64 on the extension 63, and paired, oppositely disposed dual prongs on the strap 64 for connection with rods as intermediate the end hangers and wall brackets. The prongs 65 can be lengthened, if desired, to provide limited adjustability without theuse of telescoping rods 66, as shown.

Referring to the end hanger modified embodiment 63 of FIG. 5 it is to be noted that the one hanger is usable on both right and left-hand sides and that it is of one piece formed wire construction. Like legs and 71 have like opposed hook ends 72 and 73 respectively, like paired parallel prongs'74 and '75 respectively, and a mutually interconnecting central brace 76 leading between the prongs 74 and 75 holding the end hangers in assembled condition with all parts properly disposed.

The opposite sides of FIG. 5 graphically illustrate the reversible nature of the end hanger between the right and left-hand positions shown wherein the hook ends 72 and 73 change position and operation relative to the wall bracket aperture 22 and flanges 23.

Wall bracket 77 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is made from a piece of strip material having its top end bent over at 90 to provide a ledge 78 against which the top leg of an end hanger may rest upon; The ledge 78 is provided with a vertical opening 79 therethrough which is adapted to receive the hook end of the top leg of the end hanger to thereby hold the end hanger in place. The bottom end of the wall bracket 7 7 is bent outwardly in a V-formation at 80 which V-formation has .a vertical slot therethrough that 'is adapted to receive the lower hook of an end hanger.

The slot 7 81 forms side abutment surfaces 82 and 83 which confine the bottom hook of the endhanger against lateral movement.

The end hanger 84 shown in FIG. 8 is made from two I bottom legs 30 contacts the wall bracket 10 between the flanges 23 whereupon the flanges 23 grip the hanger holding it in position.

In using the end hangers of FIGS. 4 and 5, the end hangers, rods and cornice are similarly integrated, as hereinbefore set forth, and the assembly hung as a unit, and the end hangers of FIGS. 4 and 5 have the added advantage of being reversible between right and left-hand positions as the hook elements 56 and 57, FIG. 4, and the hook elements 72 and 73, FIG. 5, are alike and coact with either the wall bracket flange aperture 22 for support or with the wall bracket flanges 23 for bracing.

The adjustable center support bracket of FIG. 4 is usable with any embodiment of end hanger and hangable as a unit with the end hangers, rodsand cornice elements I and upon hanging the center support bracket horizontal extension 63 is telescoped over the projecting leg 62 in supported relationship.

The wall bracket 10 is easily made from flat stock and the flange and aperture inexpensively formed as desired. The hangers 12 are easily made of wire of any gauge depending upon the size of the elements and the weight to be supported and the joint between the center leg 33 and top leg 25 is easily induction welded so that to all intents and purposes the hangers 11 are of one piece construction. The end hangers of FIG. 5 are of one piece wire construction and need only be formed on a wire forming machine and no welding is required.

generally L-shaped hangers 85 and 86 having outwardly extending leg portions 87 and 88, which generally overlie each other, as well as two laterally extending leg portions 89 and 90, which also overlie each other. The top and bottom L-shaped members 85' and 86 respectively are supported in vertically spaced'apart relationship by means of a generally V-shaped spacer wire 91 which is welded to both of the L-shaped members 85 and 86 adjacent their inner ends. The inner end of the outwardly extending leg portions 87 and 88 are bent toward each other,

so as to form downwardly extending and upwardly extending hook portions 92 and 93 respectively. The ends of the laterally extending leg portions 89 and 90 are bent approximately 180 so as to form slightly diverging U- shaped portions 94 and 95 over which tubular members are adapted to be telescoped, as shown for example in FIG. 4.

FIG. 90f the drawing shows another embodiment of center brace for the dual rods. The center brace 96comprises a pair of C-shaped reinforcing members 97, one member of which is inserted in each of the rods 98 and 99. Each of the C-shaped reinforcing members is held in its respective rod by a machine screw 100 which extends through the longitudinal opening llllin the back of the rod. The reinforcing members 97 are held in a spaced apart position by means of an X-frame'made from two pieces of wire 102 and 103 which are welded together at their center, andthe ends of which are hooked through properly spaced openings 104 in the reinforcing members 97.

i In use,FIG S. 1-3, the user fixes the wall brackets 10 on the 'wall at the desired height and interspacing, positions the cornice member 13 or other drapery element on the rods 12, and then inserts the prongs 45 into the channels of the rods 12 and the cornice 13, rods 12, and hangers '11 are now assembled as a complete unit for hanging and it is obvious that this can very easily be done at a ground level. The unit is then elevated to the height of the wall bracket 10 and the hooks 28 on the upper legs 25 are inserted in the wall bracket flange aperture 22 whereupon the device is hung and upon a slight downward movement of the assembly the inner end 31 of the The wall bracket 77 of FIGS. 6 and 7 is very simply made out of a generally flat piece of bar stock by punching the opening 79 and the slot 81 in the bar before the bar is bent. Top ledge 78 is easily bent over, and the lower end of the bariis conveniently bent outwardly in the region of the vertical slot 81 so as to provide the abutment surfaces 82 and 83 between which a hook portion '93 of an end hanger can become wedged. The construction and use of the end'hanger 84 is generally similar to that shown in FIG. 4, and so will not be further elaborated upon, excepting to note that it also is capable of being used as either a right or a left hand bracket.

The inventive drapery hanger-assembly with these features constitutes a compact, durable, and neat appearing mechanis'measily assembled and hung and re moved, and creates an attractive appearance as though much laborious time, effort, and expense had been consumed in manufacture and assembly.

Although the few embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail, -it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape, detail, and arrangement of the various elements of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An easily integrated and hung drapery assembly comprising, paired spaced wall brackets having a wall contacting back portion, a top extending flange having a vertically extending hook receiving aperture, and vertically extending lower clamping flanges; paired opposed hangers having a top leg, a projecting outer end and an inner end on said top leg, a hook on said top leg inner end disposed in said wall bracket top flange aperture; a bottom leg having an inner end engaging said wall bracket lower clamping flanges, and an extending outer end; a cross leg formed as an extension of' said bottom leg inner end extending upwardly and outwardly and connected to said top leg adjacent its outer end, the portion .of said cross leg adjacent said bottom leg being disposed between said vertically extending clamping flanges of a respective one of said wall brackets; said top and bottom leg outer ends on each said hanger having a sidewise inwardly extending foot portion doubling back in a U-loop portion to a sidewise outwardly extending toe portion forming a drapery rod engaging prong; said prongs on all said legs constituting drapery rod channel insert portions disposed in spaced opposed paired top and bottom drapery rod engging positions;

if and paired adjustably extensible top and bottom drapery rods having received channels engaging said prongs for support and positioning; said paired spaced rods being adapted to support a drapery member such as a cornice by insertion therein; said hangers, rods, and a drapery member thereon being hangable and removable as a unit relative to said wall brackets by respectively inserting and extracting said hooks relative to said wall bracket top flange apertures.

2. An easily integrated and hung drapery assembly comprising, paired spaced wall brackets having a wall contacting back portion, a top extending flange having a vertically extending hook receiving aperture, and vertically extending lower clamping flanges; paired opposed hangers having a top leg, a projecting outer end and an inner end on said top leg, a hook on said top leg inner end disposed in said wall bracket top flange aperture; a bottom leg having an inner engaging said wall bracket lower clamping flanges, and an extending outer end; a cross leg connected between said top and bottom legs uniting said top and bottom legs in assembled relationship; said top and bottom leg outer ends on each said hanger having a side-wise inwardly extending foot portion doubling back in a U- loop portion to a sidewise outwardly extending toe portion forming a drapery rod engaging prong; said prongs on all said legs constituting drapery rod channel insert portions disposed in spaced opposed paired top and bottom drapery rod engaging positions; and paired sectioned top and bottom drapery rods having receiving channels enclosing said prongs for support and positioning; said paired spaced rods being adapted to support a drapery member such as a cornice by insertion therein; said hangers, rods, and a drapery member thereon being hangable and removable as a unit relative to said Wall brackets by respectively inserting and extracting said hooks relative to said wall bracket top flange apertures; said hanger bottom leg wall bracket engaging inner end being substantially the same as said top leg hook end enabling right or left-hand use of each said hanger.

3. In a device as set forth in claim 2, an adjustable center support bracket insertable between sections of said rods having dual paired oppositely extending prongs receivable in said drapery rod sections, a depending strap interconnecting said prongs, a horizontal extension on said strap, and a center wall bracket having a projecting leg telescoped with said horizontal extension.

4. An easily integrated and hung drapery assembly comprising, paired spaced wall brackets having a wall contacting back portion, a top extending flange having a vertically extending hook receiving aperture, and vertically extending lower clamping flanges; paired hangers each having like top and bottom legs, like opposed inner hook ends and like outer prong ends; a center brace leg disposed between said prong ends interconnecting said top and bottom legs in assembled relationship; said top and bottom leg outer prong ends each having a sidewise inwardly extending foot portion doubling back in a U-loop portion to a sidewise outwardly extending toe portion forming a drapery rod engaging prong; said center brace leg leading between said prong toe portions; all said elements being made from a single piece of wire formed as stated; and paired top and bottom drapery rods having receiving channels enclosing said prongs for support and positioning; said paired spaced rods being adapted to support a drapery member such as a cornice by insertion therein; said hangers, rods, and a drapery member thereon being hangable and removable as a unit relative to said wall brackets by respectively inserting and extracting said hooks relative to said wall bracket top flange apertures.

5. A support member for cornice and the like decorative assemblies, comprising: top and bottom generally L-shaped members, each of said L-shaped members having outstanding leg portions and laterally turned leg portions with the respective portions of each member apart relationship, means connecting each of said L-' shaped members supporting them in said vertically spaced apart relationship, each of said laterally turned portions being turned back generally parallel over themselves to provide generally U-shaped ends for telescopically receiving said decorative assemblies, and the end of said outstanding leg portion of said top L-shaped member ending in a downwardly turned hook portion.

6. A support member for cornice and the like decorative assemblies, comprising; top and bottom generally L-shaped members, each of said L-shaped members having outstanding leg portions and laterally turned leg portions with the respective portions of each member being positioned over each other in vertically spaced apart relationship, means connecting each of said L-shaped members supporting them in said vertically spaced apart relationship, each of said laterally turned portions being turned back generally parallel over themselves to provide generally U-shaped ends for telescopically receiving said decorative assemblies, the end of said outstanding leg portion of said top L-shaped member ending in a downwardly turned hook portion, and the end of said outstanding leg portion of said bottom L-shaped member ending in an upwardly turned hook portion.

7. A combination wall bracket and decorative assembly support comprising: a wall bracket having an outwardly extending top portion with a vertically extending hole therethrough, said bracket having a bottom portion with outwardly extending abutment surfaces which are laterally spaced apart a predetermined distance and which face each other, top and bottom generally L-shaped members, each of said L-shaped members having outstanding leg portions and laterally turned leg portions with the respective portions of each member being positioned over each other in vertically spaced apart relationship, means connecting each of said L-shaped members supporting them in said vertically spaced apart relationship, each of said laterally turned portions being turned back generally parallel over themselves to provide generally U-shaped ends for telescopically receiving said decorative assemblies, the end of said outstanding leg portion of said top L-shaped member ending in a downwardly turned hook portion which fits through said vertically extending hole of said wall bracket, and the end of said outstanding leg portion of said bottom L-shaped member extending between said abutment surfaces of said wall bracket when said top L-shaped member rests on said top portion of said wall bracket.

8. A decorative assembly comprising; a pair of identical wall brackets spaced apart laterally, each of said wall brackets having an outwardly extending top portion with a vertically extending hole therethrough, each of said bracketsalso having a bottom portion with outwardly extending abutment surfaces which are laterally spaced apart a predetermined distance and which face each other, a pair of identical support members, each of said support members having first and second generally L-shaped members, each of said L-shaped members having outstanding leg portions and laterally turned leg portions with the respective portions of each member being positioned over each other in vertically spaced apart relationship, means connecting each of said L-shaped members supporting them in said vertically spaced apart relationship, each of said laterally turned portions being turned back generally parallel over themselves to provide generally U-shaped ends, the ends of said outstanding leg portions of each support member being turned to project towards each other to provide hook portions, a respective one of said support members being supported in a respective one of said wall brackets with the first and second laterally turned leg portions of one support member projecting towards the laterally turned leg portions of the other support member, the upper outstanding leg portion of each support member resting on top of said top portion of a respective hole of the respective wall bracket, the lower hook portion of each-support member extending between said abutment surfaces of respective wall brackets, and a generally tubular cross member opposite ends of which are telescoped over respective laterally turned portions of said spaced L-shaped members.

References Cited in the file of this patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Boye 'Ju1y 22, 1941 Eisenberg Jan. 24, 1950 Sklar Dec. 26, 1950 Ziemrnerman Jan. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,166,286 January 19, 196

Homer C. Pfaff It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below Column 4, line 75, for "engging" read engaging column 5, line 18, after "inner" insert end column 7, line 8, after "spaced" insert apart Signed and sealed this 22nd day of June 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

4. AN EASILY INTEGRATED AND HUNG DRAPERY ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, PAIRED SPACED WALL BRACKETS HAVING A WALL CONTACTING BACK PORTION, A TOP EXTENDING FLANGE HAVING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING HOOK RECEIVING APERTURE, AND VERTICALLY EXTENDING LOWER CLAMPING FLANGES; PAIRED HANGERS EACH HAVING LIKE TOP AND BOTTOM LEGS, LIKE OPPOSED INNER HOOK ENDS AND LIKE OUTER PRONG ENDS; A CENTER BRACE LEG DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID PRONG ENDS INTERCONNECTING SAID TOP AND BOTTOM LEGS IN ASSEMBLED RELATIONSHIP; SAID TOP AND BOTTOM LEG OUTER PRONG ENDS EACH HAVING A SIDEWISE INWARDLY EXTENDING FOOT PORTION DOUBLING BACK IN A U-LOOP PORTION TO A SIDEWISE OUTWARDLY EXTENDING TOE PORTION FORMING A DRAPERY ROD ENGAGING PRONG; SAID CENTER BRACE LEG LEADING BETWEEN SAID PRONG TOE PORTIONS; ALL SAID ELEMENTS BEING MADE FROM A SINGLE PIECE OF WIRE FORMED AS STATED; AND PAIRED TOP AND BOTTOM DRAPERY RODS HAVING RECEIVING CHANNELS ENCLOSING SAID PRONGS FOR SUPPORT AND POSITIONING; SAID PAIRED SPACED RODS BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A DRAPERY MEMBER SUCH AS A CORNICE BY INSERTION THEREIN; SAID HANGERS, RODS, AND A DRAPERY MEMBER THEREON BEING HANGABLE AND REMOVABLE AS A UNIT RELATIVE TO SAID WALL BRACKETS BY RESPECTIVELY INSERTING AND EXTRACTING SAID HOOKS RELATIVE TO SAID WALL BRACKET TOP FLANGE APERTURES. 